VI.

The Rainbow around the Tomb.

"Bold Infidelity! turn pale and die;
Beneath this stone an infant's ashes lie;

Say, is it lost or saved?

If death's by sin, it sinned because it's here;
If Heaven's by works, in Heaven it can't appear;
Reason, ah! how depraved!

Revere the sacred page, the knot's untied.

It died, for Adam sinned: it lives, for Jesus died."

THE discussion in the last chapter gave me an immovable basis upon which to stand in prosecuting my interesting inquiry. It establishes, as clearly as any moral truth can be established, the fact, that some infants, dying in infancy, are saved; or, in other ords, that all the infants of believers are saved. I could not rest satisfied. Multitudes of infants, the children of unbelievers and Pagans, die. Are they included in the merciful provisions of redemption? Are they taken from those who would not, if they could, give them a religious

training, to THAT FAMILY, in which they will forever rejoice to learn the mysteries of salvation? Such is the common hope and belief. It may be an unenlightened, or it may be an enlightened and sanctifying faith—still it is a common belief. It is the faith of the bereaved Christian. He believes that the teachings of inspiration sustain the intuitions of. his heart. It is the belief of the man that has no hope in Christ for himself. He may not be able to give you any reason for this hope; but his desolate heart cherishes the reflection, and from it draws the only compensating consolation he receives.

Have this opinion, hope, belief, any support from the Word of God?

Nowhere in Scripture are these sentiments and desires disapproved. All improper thoughts and emotions are forbidden; and it is not difficult to learn what are improper thoughts and emotions; but not the slightest intimation is given that it is sinful to cherish this sentiment. Nor is it inconsistent with any doctrine of the Bible. Over the death of

infants the Sacred Page casts no appalling gloom. It affords much to sustain this sentiment as an intelligent belief-it breathes not one syllable that will sustain the reverse.

We say it affords much to sustain this belief. A collection of its truths and facts, which bear directly or indirectly upon it, will enable us to see clearly the Bible-ground upon the subject, and to say, without any reserve, THAT ALL, WITHOUT ANY LIMITATION, WHO DIE IN INFANCY, ARE SAVED.

The previous discussion has presented some difficulties.

We are taught that God "visits the iniquities of the father upon the children." Where does this visitation end? Does the accomplishment of God's purposes in this visitation relate to this world? Is it exhausted in time? We answer: Judgments in time must be carefully distinguished from eternal ruin. The one pre-supposes, but does not necessarily imply the other. The one may follow the other, as in the case of Judas; but this fact does not prove that it always

does. And, in regard to this visitation, so far as Scripture sheds any light upon the subject, it shows that it is bounded by earth, and exhausted in time. The iniquity of David was visited upon his child. Yet, when it died, he was comforted with the joyous anticipation-"I shall go to Him." This visitation is not confined to death; nor, when it is by death, is it confined to infant days. The amiable son of wicked Saul was thus visited for the iniquities of his father.

His death was to Saul as the death of children may be, an awful evidence of God's displeasure; and to Him, of his rejection of Him as King. To Jonathan it was a blessing, ending a consistent and honorable, and preventing an inglorious life. Had he survived, he would have been a living testimony of the fact, that his family had forfeited the crown by disobedience to God. But in his case the "visitation" did not pass beyond the grave. We know no Scripture that justifies the opinion that children perish eternally because of parental guilt or unbelief.

Another difficulty may be noticed.

The

children of believers are born and die within the covenant; are the early dead of unbelievers included? If not, can they be saved?

In regard to adult unbelievers, under the Jewish dispensation, such a provision was made for the reception of the proselyte, that even the Canaanite could be received into the church. Under the Gospel dispensation, a wider and more effectual door is opened for the reception of all who will believe upon Jesus. Now, when an unbeliever yields up in heart to God, the promise is his to its fullest extent. Should he become a parent, his offspring would be included in the covenant; and should they die in infancy would be saved. Their salvation does not result from their parents' faith, but is wholly independent of it. The covenanted promise is the ground of hope that they are saved. The ground of their salvation can be only the merits and mediation of the Redeemer. For salvation is not dependent upon good works, but is in every case the gift of God.